Final reflection.

[K.J.]

The topic of Connecting People via the Network is one of the most vital meta-trends of the Horizon Project. I believe so because without communicating through the network with the other students, without connecting with the teachers and without connecting with each other using the network, the chances of this project to be successful are very low. I believe that communicating and using the network is absolutely crucial not just in the Horizon Project, but in the world as a whole. It keeps us up with everything new that goes around in the world, and it can basically teleport us virtually to wherever we want to go with whoever we want to be with. However, the world of connecting with others using the network is not always a magical fantasy world that we can live in; it can sometimes be a haunting and traumatizing experience for some people. There are many issues regarding social utility websites like Facebook and MySpace, as some people abuse this privilege and basically invade people’s privacy and comfort zones by practically pursuing and tracking them down. However, people around the world use the feature of connecting people via the network for good causes, like keeping in touch with your family and friends, for example. They also use it to keep up with recent updates in the world, for example, checking the latest news or headlines online. Whichever way people use the network, the aspect of connecting with others from all aspects of the world is always present, and I personally believe that the world could fall apart without the use of connecting with others using the network.
The project as a whole has really helped me as an individual. First of all, I now know how to do a detailed research that helps me get what I want right away. I achieved that with the help of websites like Delicious, where you search for pages that people tag about certain topics. So basically, using websites like Delicious basically narrows down your research to exactly what you want, and it helps you save a lot of time and effort, as the best pages for the topic you are researching about have already been connecting. Secondly, I also improved in my communicating skills, and I feel more comfortable now with approaching people of different nationalities and backgrounds. For example, at the beginning of this project, I did not really feel comfortable talking to people on the Ning, but as we went on and on in the project, I started feeling more and more comfortable to not just answer people who comment on my page, but to also approach them myself and talk to them. I also feel more comfortable in starting discussions on my wiki page, and all the subgroup wiki pages. Thirdly, I feel that I am more able now to be a “leader”, and I feel that my self confidence has improved. That is because of taking the responsibility of being a project manager, and completing all the project manager requirements. I feel that being responsible for such a large group of people really helps you improve in how to communicate with others, and it is a very exciting challenge that you take on by doing this role. Last, but not least, the project has really helped me look at a different side of the internet; the educational site. Before the project, I mainly used the internet to chat to my friends on messenger softwares like MSN or Yahoo, play games on websites like Miniclip or Addictinggames, or just researching information for school using Google, for example. However, after I completed the project, I learnt about a lot of different sites that really help you with researching and asking questions if you are in need. Such websites include Wikispaces, Ning, Blogger, Delicious, and many more. The use of these websites has really helped me open my eyes to another side of the internet, a side that I have never approached before, which I now know about and feel comfortable to use.
In terms of the project itself, I think that it has been very well organized. At the beginning of the project, I kept on thinking that the project could have been organized in a better way since there have been a lot of time differences and the communication was not really well. However, as I started to think more and more about it, I found that the project is really well done and organized due to the time differences and the rotations of the I.T. classes in all the different countries. I found that the timings were fitting and I now actually congratulate the teachers and organizers of the project to how it has been done. However, one thing I see could be improved is the amount of information and background information the students are given about what is expected of them during the project. At the beginning of the project, no one really knew what they were expected to do, and a lot of the students were asking the project managers what to do, and not their teachers. As a project manager myself, I got comments like: “Since you're the project manager, are you the person to ask what my specific role is?”(see footnotes for bib.) or “Can I make an article of high-school education?” (see footnotes for bib.)This was not only with me, but with other project managers like Dana M. who got comments like “I’m STUCK!”(see footnotes for bib.). Anyway, although these questions seem to be easy to answer, the problem is that most of the time we didn’t know what is being asked ourselves and we were also sort of “stuck”. My suggestion would be to give all the students a good detailed introduction to the project and what is required of each student in their specific subgroup, but an even more detailed introduction to the project managers and assistant project manager so that they can help the students as well, and not only the teachers. Looking more on the brightside, I think that the use of the Ning for the project was a really good choice because it is easy to use and everyone can edit their page however they want and so that gives each individual the freedom to use their creativity however they want. Other than that however, I think that the project was really good!
I personally really enjoyed working on this project, and I think it is one of the biggest projects that I have done in my life, after personal project of course! I really took on a big responsibility and I think that I did what I did what I was required. I also met a lot of great individuals in this project and made several friends. I think the Horizon Project is a project that really takes things to the next level, and one that really shows the development of the internet and education. But more importantly, I strongly believe that how people of different backgrounds and nationalities worked together to achieve one goal, putting aside their differences, really shows the evolution of humanity towards the better.

Citations

"Specific Role" comment:
K., Eli. "Comment Thread." Horizon Project 2008. April 8th. Ning. 6 Jun 2008 .


"Can I do an essay" comment:
Yasaka. "Horizon Project 2008 Message Center: Inbox." Horizon Project 2008. April 21st. Ning. 6 Jun 2008 .

Note: I am aware that you cannot go to my inbox, but I just wanted to show where I go t the comment from!


"I'm stuck" comment:
Rasha. "Wall Comments." Horizon Project 2008. April 20th. Ning. .

Note: link is not directly to the comment, to the PM's profile. To see the comment, scroll down to the end of the page. It should be the last visible comment made by Rasha.

[K.J.]

Although we are finally through with the project, I think I'm going to feel some emptiness over the summer because I won't check the Ning and wiki page everyday! =(

[Julie Lindsay]

KJ, I am very impressed with you final reflection. you have been a dedicated member of the class and have managed to be introspective about your role as a student and as a leader (PM) throughout. I know it took a while for you to realise what the requirements were, but once you did you have been flying! So, next year you need to look at how you can incorporate these new skills into your everyday learning. Stay online, and stay connected.